A METHOD OF SETTING AN ELECTRO-OPTICAL SIGNAL PATH AND AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

Abstract: By a method and an apparatus for setting an electro-optical signal path including a light source (1) emitting light pulses (29) and a light receiver (2) adapted to receive the emitted light pulses (29), a first signal processing circuit (4) is adapted to recognize the light pulses (2) and to detect the presence of an object (30) between the light source (1) and the light receiver (2) at a reduction of the level of said light pulses (29), preferably at interruption. In order to obtain information on the electrooptical signal path and in order to ensure a setting of a linear processing area therefor, the light source (1) is by means of an associated encoding circuit (5) fed with a modulation signal (37-39) modulating the emitted light pulses in such a manner that at least one minimum pulse (20f &cir& _) and at least one maximum pulse (20g &cir& _) are generated, a second signal processing circuit (3) being coupled to the first signal processing circuit (4) so as on the basis of the result (8a &cir& _, 8b &cir& _) of the reception of said pulses to ensure said setting.

Description: Title: A method of setting an electro-optical signal path and an apparatus for carrying out the method Technical Field The invention relates to a method of the type described in the preamble of claim 1 , and to an apparatus for carrying out said method. Background Art A known method of this type is described in for instance "Lichtschran- ken" by M. Rascher and H. Klemmt, Dr. Alfred Huthig Verlag GmbH, 1987, and by this method a light source emits short light pulses with a fixed duty cycle and a fixed pulse intensity. A light-sensitive receiver is connected o a mean value generating circuit as well as to a single comparator circuit. A signal appears on the output of the comparator, said signal indicating whether the generated mean value exceeds or is lower than a set reference value applied on the reference input of the comparator. An interruption of the optical transmission between the light source and the light receiver causes a lower mean value which after the comparison with the fixed reference results in a change in the output signal on the comparator. This method is encumbered with several draw-backs. The establishing of several sets including a light source and a light receiver arranged close to one another may result in an error situation in which it is impossible to set a reference value, which in a reliable manner causes a signal change on the output of the comparator when the light source associated with the light receiver is interrupted. The remaining light sources take inadvertently part in setting a mean value which irrespective of the interruption of the light source in ques¬ tion prevents a signal change on the output of the comparator in ques¬ tion. When the reference value is set so close to the mean value apply¬ ing to no interruption of the light sources that an interruption of the light source associated with the light receiver results exactly in a signal change, the light receiver becomes very sensitive to interruptions often occurring within the industry, such as electrical noise radiation, mechan¬ ical shakes of the light source as well as variations in the emitted light intensity of the light source caused by temperature variations and ageing of the components. US-PS No. 5, 126,555 describes an apparatus where the above error situation has been avoided by means of a synchronized receiver circuit ensuring that nothing but the pulse pattern emitted by the light source is recognized after reflection on an object in the so-called activation circuit of the light receiver. This is obtained by the emitted pulse/inter¬ ruption pattern, such as in form of an EXCLUSIVE-OR gate, being recog¬ nized instead of generation of a simple mean value. As a result, foreign light sources emitting a continuous or pulse-shaped light intensity recog- nized on the light receiver can be distinguished from the light source of the apparatus, whereby a change encumbered with errors is avoided on the output. The light source remains interrupted until the error situation has ceased. This apparatus is encumbered with the draw-back that it can be inac- tivated when exposed to a foreign light source. Another draw-back is found in the fact that the fixed light pulse intensity used in the appara¬ tus does not immediately prevent an overload of the light-sensitive receiver or the succeeding mean value generating circuit, said overload appearing in connection with strongly reflecting objects. Finally, an essential draw-back of this apparatus is that it does not comprise means for adapting the pulse intensity of the light source to a use involving varying transmission conditions between the light source and the light receiver. This draw-back has been overcome in an apparatus described in EP-PS No. 0.418.989, describing a photo-cell with a light source. The output power of this light source is automatically adapted to optionally appe¬ aring impurities on the light source or on the light receiver. The appear¬ ance of impurities may result in a gradual attenuation of the transmission therebetween. The advantage is obtained by means of a detection circuit connected to the light receiver. The detection circuit activates a coupling process ensuring that the light power is kept constant by the mean power of the light source being adjusted. As a result, the "penetration power" of the photo-cell is always the same in such a manner that it does not react gradually to semi-transparent objects and to a gradual attenuation of the light transmission between the light source and the light receiver. This apparatus is encumbered with the draw-back that several sets including their respective light source and light-sensitive receiver influence the individual setting thereof when they are mounted so close that a single light source can expose several receivers either by a direct radiation or by an unintentional reflection from objects or peri¬ pheries. Another draw-back is found in the fact that the apparatus uses pulses with the same intensity or the same duty cycle in principle. As a result, the light pulses received provide only insignificantly the light receiver with information on the transmission condition in question between light source and light receiver. Brief Description of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a method which allows recognition of the light source associated with each light-sensitive re- ceiver in a system including several light sources and light-sensitive receivers, and which ensures that the light-sensitive receiver receives detailed information on the transmission conditions from the light source in a system including only a single light source and light-sensitive re¬ ceiver so as always to ensure a linear processing area for the entire system. The object is according to the invention obtained by the method indicat¬ ed in the introduction being characterised by the subject matter stated in the characterising clause of claim 1. In this manner the light pulses emitted through the modulation signal are provided with information-carrying amplitude signals. The information- carrying signals are such that they can be used both for detecting the always available linear processing area for the electro-optical signal path and for ensuring that various closely arranged signal paths do not cause an error function of any signal path. It is advantageous as the minimum pulse to choose the substantially constant noise level or noise floor of the light receiver, i.e. the amplitude values being so high that they are only just recognized in the noise. It is advantageous as maximum pulse to choose the overload level of the light receiver because above this level the receiver loses the amplitude information and accordingly it is a waste of transmitter power to exceed this level. The first signal pro¬ cessing circuit receives these minimum and maximum pulses, respec¬ tively, and returns the result of this reception to the second signal pro¬ cessing circuit, which in turn processes the result for a setting of a linear processing area for the electro-optical signal path. The invention relates furthermore to an apparatus of the type described in the preamble of claim 6 for carrying out the invention, said apparatus being characterised by the subject matter stated in the characterising clause of claim 6. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a simple block diagram of an apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 2 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 illustrates a flow sheet of an embodiment of the modulated, emit- ted light pulses illustrated in form of a course of a curve of an electric signal from an encoding circuit in the apparatus according to the inven¬ tion, shown over a specific period, Fig. 4 illustrates a flow sheet of a signal path in the apparatus of Fig. 2 used for setting an electro-optical signal path when varying optical trans- mission conditions apply between light source and light receiver so as to ensure a linear processing area of the electro-optical signal path, and Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate flow sheets of three embodiments of mo¬ dulation signals or modulation envelope used for setting the electro-op¬ tical signal path. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a light source 1 and a light receiver 2 forming part of an electro-optical signal path. A first signal processing circuit 4 is connected to the light receiver 2 for a detection of the light emitted by the light source 1 , said light being emitted in form of light pulses 29. A status change appears on a signal output 7 of the first signal processing circuit 4 when an object 30 causes a recognized interruption of the purely optical portion of the signal path. The light pulses 29 are controlled from a pulse circuit 10 determining the duty cycle and from an encoding circuit 5 setting the amplitude of each pulse in accordance with a modulation curve determined by a second signal processing circuit 3. The second signal processing circuit 3 is coupled to the first signal processing circuit 4. The modulated light pulses are set on the basis of signals 14a, 14b from a control panel 13, synchronizing pulses 12 from the pulse circuit 10, and signals 8a, 8b from the first signal processing circuit 4. The nature of these signals will now be explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows the light source 1 in form of a light-emitting element 1 a and an amplifier/driver circuit 1 b, and the light receiver 2 is shown in form of a light-sensitive element 2a coupled to a low-noise preamplifier 2b. The encoding circuit 5 comprises a multiplier 3b introducing infor- mation into the generated pulse signal 12, said information being exem¬ plified in form of three discrete amplitude values 6e, 6b, and 6d superim¬ posed the pulse signal 12 in a 3-1 multiplexer 3a. The generated, modu¬ lated signal 6c is transmitted from the multiplier 3b to the light source 1 , cf. Fig. 2. This signal has been shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. The modulation envelope is controlled by a scanner circuit 16 generating a change signal 15 for the multiplexer 3a_. The three input signals 6e, 6b_ og 6d_ to the multiplexer 3a result from signals from the first signal processing circuit 4 connected to the light receiver 2, viz. from the control signals 8a and 8b transmitted to two servo circuits 17a and 17b, respectively, in the second signal processing circuit 3. The servo circuits 17a og 17b maintain the level of the received minimum and maximum pulses 20f and 20g., respectively, in Fig. 3 in accordance with the signal levels 20a and 20c. The minimum pulses 20f enter the multiplexer 3a as the signal 6d and the maximum pulses 20g enter said multiplexer 3a as the signal 6e_. The main signal 20lι in Fig. 3 is generated as a pulse signal with an amplitude determined by an offset 14b relative to the minimum pulse 20f. This main signal 20h enters the multiplexer 3a as the signal 6b. The offset can be set by the user from a control panel 13 as a permanent offset 14b,. cf. Fig. 2. The detection of an object 30 in the optical signal path is performed by way of a window comparison of the received, mean value generated main signal 20jι with two detection levels 9a and 9b_, cf. Fig. 3. If the received mean value generated signal is below the lower detection level 9a, the situation is recognized as the presence of an object 30 in the optical signal path. This situation releases a blocking or interruption of the two servos 17a og 17b through a control signal 7 from the signal output of the comparator, whereby the servos do not try to compensate for the presence of the object 30. In order to reactivate or open the servos 17a og 17b, the received mean value generated signal must exceed the upper detection level 9b. The difference between the lower and the upper detection level 9a and 9b, respectively, is called the hysteresis 14a of the signal path, and it is set from the control panel 13 by the user, said signal 14a from the control panel 13 being transmitted to the multiplexer 3a through the summation circuit 18b. An indication of a linear function of the electro-optical signal path is provided by means of a comparator 19 comparing the set detection levels 9a and 9b with the servo-set operation levels 6d and 6e. When it is tried to set an offset 14b or a hysteresis 14a from the control panel 13 which cannot be carried out with an actual operation condition for the light source 1 and the light receiver 2, a change appears on the outputs 1 1 a . and 1 1 b of the comparator. Correspondingly, changed operation conditions, such as a smudging of the light source 1 or the light receiver, may result in the set values 14a and 14b can no longer be maintained within the linear area of the electro-optical signal path, and accordingly a change appears on the outputs of the comparator 19. These output signals 1 1 a and 1 1 b can furthermore be used together with a determining algorithm for controlling the circuits of the offset 13b and the hysteresis 13a. As an alternative these circuits can be controlled by an optical programming equipment 31 as outlined in Fig. 2 and emitting light pulses 32 which are received in the receiver 2. The emission of these light pulses 32 can for instance be delayed relative to the light pulses 29, and said light pulses 32 can be used for feeding the apparatus with information for controlling the circuits of the offset 13b and the hysteresis 13a. The remaining components shown in Fig. 2 in the signal processing circuit 4 include a detector 33, a 1 -3 multiplexer 34, a low-pass filter 35, and a comparator 36 with the signal output 7 detecting an object 30 and controlling the two servos 17a and 17b. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a modulation envelope adapted to be used in an apparatus according to the invention and shown in the period where a portion of the received pulse signal is shown with a minimum pulse 20f, a maximum pulse 20g, and three signal pulses 20h, all con- tained in the same modulation period 20e. Furthermore a noise level 20a as well as a saturation level 20c for the light receiver are indicated. The two detection levels 9a and 9b are placed between the two levels defin¬ ing the limits of the linear processing area for the electro-optical signal path. The level 20b of the received main signal pulses 20h must be lower than the lower detection level 9a in order to be recognized as an interruption of the optical signal path, and after an interruption it must again exceed the upper detection level 9b in order to indicate that the interruption no longer applies. As mentioned previously, the difference between the lower and the upper detection level 9a and 9b, respective- ly, is called the hysteresis 14a. of the signal path, and it is set from the control panel 13 by the user. An example of adjustment of the electro-optical signal path appears from Fig. 4 where the transmitted pulse signal 21 appears in the time interval, and where a varying transmission 23 in the optical signal path causes a received signal 22a, 22b with pulses 22a applying when the optical signal path is free and with a constant DC-level 22b representing the mean value of the noise when the optical signal path has been inter¬ rupted by an object 30. Furthermore the output status 24 of the signal output 7 is shown. A weak attenuation of the transmission in the optical signal path causes a reduced signal level on the light receiver with the effect that the minimum pulse does not exceed the noise level 20a of the receiver. The lack of pulse-recognition has the effect that the mini¬ mum servo 17b adjusts the signal up such that the minimum pulse is indeed recognized. Independent of the latter the maximum servo 17a adjusts the maximum pulse up such that it just loads the light receiver 2 correctly. When the transmission conditions are improved the received signal is increased in level, and the two servos 17a, 17b now adjust the emitted signal level downwards in such a manner that it is just correctly reproduced in the light receiver, i.e. none of the received pulses exceed the saturation level 2. The signal output 7 does not change its- status when only a slight change applies to the transmission conditions, but only when an interruption caused by an object 30 in the optical signal path applies. Fig. 5a . illustrates a modulation envelope 37 with an increased detection guarantee ensured by a large number of signal pulses 20h in each modu¬ lation period. This modulation envelope is to be used when the electro- optical signal path is used in an environment with relatively constant transmission conditions in the electro-optical signal path, and when heavy requirements are presented to the detection guarantee. Fig. 5b illustrates a preferred modulation envelope 37, viz. a sinusoidal envelope to be used when several light sources can inadvertently be re¬ ceived on the same light receiver. In this manner a correct reception of the light source associated with the light receiver is ensured. Fig. 5c illustrates a preferred modulation envelope 39 for determination of the linear processing area of an electro-optical signal path.

Claims: Claims. 1. A method of setting an electro-optical signal path including a light source emitting light pulses, and a light receiver adapted to receive the emitted light pulses and which is connected to a first signal processing circuit adapted to recognize the light pulses and to detect the presence of an object between the light source and the light receiver when the level of the light pulses is reduced below a predetermined limit, pre¬ ferably at interruption of said light pulses, characterised in that the light source (1) receives a modulation signal (37 to 39) by means of an encoding circuit (5) connected thereto, said modulation signal-modu¬ lating the emitted light pulses in such a manner that at least one mini¬ mum pulse (20f) and at least one maximum pulse (20g) are generated, and that a second signal processing circuit (3) is coupled to the first signal processing circuit (4) capable of ensuring a setting of a linear processing area (20d) for the electro-optical signal path on the basis of the result (8a. and 8b) of the reception of the maximum pulse (20g) and the minimum pulse (20f), respectively. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a ra cte r i s e d in that a user can set an offset (14b) or a hysteresis (14a) on a control panel (13) connected to the second signal processing circuit (3). 3. A method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, c h a ra cteri sed in that a comparator (19) included in the second signal processing circuit compares set detection levels (9a., 9b_), the difference of which forms the hysteresis of the signal path, with servo-set operation levels (6d, 6e), said comparator (19) receiving said four signals (9a, 9b, 6d, 6e) and emitting two resulting output signals (11a, 11b), which together with a determining algorithm are used for an automatic control of offset (14b) and hysteresis (14a), respectively. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said determining algorithm can be changed by the user of the electro-optical signal path on the control panel (13). 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characte rised in that said encoding circuit (5) modulates the emitted light pulses (29) with a series of short pulses with a mutually deviating phase and the same pulse intensity. 6. An apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1 , said apparatus comprising a light source emitting light pulses and -a light receiver receiving said light pulses, as well as a first signal processing circuit recognizing the light pulses and detecting the presence of an object between the light source and the light receiver when the level of the light pulses is reduced below a predetermined limit, preferably at interruption of said light pulses, characte rised in that the ap- paratus comprises an encoding circuit (5) connected to the light source (1) for modulation of the emitted light pulses (29) so as to generate at least one minimum pulse (20f) and at least one maximum pulse (20αj, and that the apparatus comprises a second signal processing circuit (3) connected to the first signal processing circuit (4) for a transfer of the result (8a, 8b) of the reception of the maximum pulse (20CJ) and the minimum pulse (20f), respectively, for setting a linear processing area (20d) for the electro-optical signal path. 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, ch aracteri s ed in that it comprises a control panel (13) connected to the second signal proces- sing circuit (3) for setting an offset (14b) or a hysteresis (14a). 8. An apparatus as claimed in claims 6 and 7, c h a r acte ri sed in that the second signal processing circuit (3) comprises a comparator (19) adapted to compare set detection levels (9a, 9b), the difference of which forms the hysteresis of the signal path, with servo-set operation levels (6d, 6e), said comparator (19) receiving said four signals (9a, 9b, 6d, 6e) and releasing two resulting output signals (11a, 11b), which are transmitted to the control panel (13) so as together with a determining algorithm automatically to control offset (14b) and hysteresis (14a). 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, c h a ra cte r i s ed in that within a modulation period (20e) the light source (1) emits a number of light pulses (29) with a characteristic mutual intensity ratio set within the linear processing area (20d) for the electro-optical signal path, and which are unambiguously associated with said light source (1 ), and that the signal processing circuit (4) is adapted to recognize said charac¬ teristic amplitude conditions. 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that it comprises an optical software equipment (31) capable of feeding the apparatus with information upon emission of light pulses (32) to the light receiver (2) for the control of the circuits of the offset (14b) and the hysteresis (14a).

Inventors: CHRISTENSEN LARS BAGER, HOJBERG-JENSEN STIG, NIELSEN TORE ARNE, CHRISTENSEN, LARS, BAGER, HOJBERG-JENSEN, STIG, NIELSEN, TORE, ARNE
Applicants: CHRISTENSEN LARS BAGER, EMC ENG & MARKETING CO, HOJBERG JENSEN STIG, NIELSEN TORE ARNE, CHRISTENSEN, LARS, BAGER, EMC ENGINEERING & MARKETING CONSULTING A/S, HOJBERG-JENSEN, STIG, NIELSEN, TORE, ARNE
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G01V9
IPC codes: G01J11, G01N21, G01V8, H04B10